Man placed on probation for threatening deputies

A Westminster man who threatened Carroll County Sheriff's deputies with a knife received probation before judgment Wednesday and was ordered to continue receiving mental health treatment.

Charles David Harter, 53, of the 1500 block of Knox Court, pleaded not guilty but agreed not to challenge the state's version of the facts to one count of second-degree assault.

On June 22, deputies responded to Harter's address for reports of a suicidal individual and made contact with Harter who was rambling and unresponsive to their questions, according to the statement of facts read into the record by Deputy State's Attorney Edward Coyne.

Harter produced a knife from his pocket and pointed it at the deputies but dropped it after one deputy pulled his weapon and ordered him to do so, according to Coyne.

Harter was taken to Carroll Hospital Center for an evaluation before being transported to central booking, Coyne said.

Defense attorney George Psoras Jr. said Harter is currently in treatment, taking medication for anxiety and attending self-help meetings for alcoholism.

"Alcohol was clearly one of the factors, besides mental illness," Psoras said.

Judge Michael M. Galloway placed Harter on two years of supervised probation and ordered him to continue receiving mental health treatment and going to self-help meetings.